Governor for fluid-pressure engines.



PATBNTED DEC. 18, 1906.

w. H. LARKIN. JR. GOVERNOR FOR FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

witnesses: fi W? No. 888,725. PATENTED DEC. 18. 1906.

W. H. LARKIN JR. GOVERNOR FOR FLUID PRESSURE ENGINES.

APPLIOATION IILED NOV. 29,.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

201251165565: [nave/71,2302":

Ad-1M7] THE NURRI5 PETERS cc., wnsmmzron, a c4 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

WILLIAM H.

LARKIN', JR, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK B.GILBRETH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GOVERNOR FOR FLUID-PRESSURE ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1906.

1 Application filed November 29. 1905. Serial No. 289,607.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H LARKIN,

tion, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention consists in improvements in governors for fluid-pressureengines, being more particularly, though not exclusively, intended forthe control of steam-engines where a compact and simple form ofgoverning de vice is desirable.

My invention will be best understood by reference to the followingspecification when taken in connection with the accompanyingillustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will bemore particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation in central longitudinalsection, showing a governing device constructed according to one form ofmy invention. Fig. 2 is an end view with the main casing removed andshowing the sleeve and cylindrical valve in a section taken through theports thereof. Fig. 3 is an end view showing the governor with the maincasing in place, and Fig. 4 shows the application to a steam-engine ofthe governor illustrated in Figs. 13.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, theembodiment of my invention which I have chosen for illustration consistsof an exteriorly-ribbed ring-like main casing a, provided with the coverI), bolted or otherwise secured thereto, the two being so formed as toprovide a cylindrical chamber 0, which communicates with the receivingor admission pressure-passage d and the discharge-passage 6, contained,respectively, within the casings a and b, the said passages and chamberforming a wholly-inclosed pressure-space within which the controllingdevices are contained and are adapt ed to operate. The passages at theirexits are provided with interiorly-threaded portions, by means of whichthe entire governing device may be inserted in the supply-pipe for asteam-engine, as indicated in Fig. 4,

and there act automatically to control the supplied steam passingthrough the same.

Within the governonchamber there is provided a small rotatable shaft f,preferably of hardened steel, and mounted lengthwise thepressure-passage in bearings g, suitably formed in the walls of thecasing. The shaft has pinned or otherwise suitably secured thereto torotate therewith the sleeve h, having steam-ports t, and there isprovided upon said sleeve the exterior cylindrical valve y', relativelymovable about the sleeve. The valve has a closed end confronting theadwith peripheral ports 76, corresponding to the steam-ports 'L andadapted to aline with the latter when the said valve is suitablypositioned. The steam or other fluid-pressure closed end of thecylindrical valve when the valve is suitably positioned is caused toenter the interior of the sleeve through the steamports, as indicated bythe arrows, and passing lengthwise within the sleeve is caused toimpinge against the propeller-like blades l, which occupy the open endof the annular passage in said sleeve. These blades constitute pressuremotive means, whereby the steam during its passage therethrough actsdirectly thereupon to impart to the same, together with the attachedsleeve, a velocity which is generally proportional to the velocity ofthe steam passing through the same.

The rotary sleeve has formed integrally therewith or otherwise securedto its exterior a pair of radial arms m, each of which is at tached atits outer end and herein by integral formation therewith to thesegmental metallic rim n, the latter comprising, in efiect, a separatedtwo-part fly-wheel rim, each part of which is sustained or supportedwhere attached to its radial arm n, but free at its opposite end toexpand or fly out through elasticity of the metal as the sleeve gathersspeed. The free end of each segment is split lengthwise, as indicated inFig. 1, the split ends having loosely or pivotally secured between them,by means of the studs shown, the arms 0 0, the inner ends of which areattached to the cylindrical valve 7'. As the flywheel rotates andgathers speed the consequent and outward expansion of the rim acts,through mission end of the casing and is provided entering the passage(1 being deflected by the the arms 0, to turn the sleeve 7' through a lbypass the amount of steam. thus passing slight angle, shutting off thepassage of steam to the interior of the sleeve, and thereby more or lessdiminishing the supply of steam to the engine.

The open end of the sleeve fits the casing with but a slight clearance,so that substan-v tially all of the steam may be compelled to passthrough the interior of the sleeve and by acting against the motivemeans be made effective in raising the velocity of the flywheel. If theload upon the engine is suddenly withdrawn or reduced,- the enginespeedwill: increase, and the resultant increased flow of steam willinmiediately raise the'velocity-ofthe governing device- This resultsinmoving the valve to check the increasedflow ofsteam, the amount ofsuch increased velocity and of the extent of the throttling action beingobviously dependent uponthe increase inthe velocity of steam supplied'tothe engine. On the other hand, if the speedof the engine decreases forany reason the accompanying decrease in the velocity of steam-supplywill cause the governor to open the steam-ports wider for an in creasedsupply to the engine.

Other governing meansthan that disclosed may be used and" centrifugalgoverning means may be employed other than those operating upon theexpanding or elastic rim principle without departing from the broadspirit of certain-aspects of my invention; but the disclosedconstructionhas advantages of simplicity and compactness, while at the same time bymaking due and ascertainable allowancefor leakage andslippage theproportions of the propeller-blades and of the fly-wheel can readily becalculatedwith suflicieht, accuracy to give the necessary throttlingeffect under stated conditions of steamflow.

In'order to provide for accurate adjustment of the device to conditionsobtaining in practice and to permit of its use, moreover, underconditions other thanthose for which it-has been actually designed, Ipreferably provide means for adjusting the same so that the throttlingeffect for a given change in the rate of steam-flow may be made greateror less than originally designed. This obviously may be accomplished ina variety of ways; but one of thesimplest and most practical is theprovision ofavariable by-pass. For this purpose I have shown the casingbprovided with a passage p, leading longitudinally, but laterally, fromthe main chamber 0 and entering the lateral dischargepassage e, beingthereby adapted to conduct the steam around about the motive means.This-passage p is obstructed by an adjustable gate, the samehereinconsisting of the ad.- justable screwr,'so that by adjusting thelatter out or into more orless open or close the about the motive deviceand without effect upon the same may be increased or diminished at will.This by-pass may be. entirely closed by the regulating-screw; butordinarily when the governor is Working under normal conditions thelatter would be withdrawn to partially open the passage. If theapparatus throttles the enginebefore the latter can come to the properspeed, the bypass may then be opened until the governor permits theattainment of the desired speed. If the governor shuts off too late orpermits the racing of the engine, the bypass may be closed more or lessuntil the requisite proportion of steam is caused to pass through themotive device of the fly-wheel and thedesired throttling effectobtained. This bypass provides a sensitivel-y-responsive adjust ment,inasmuch as it not only acts to admit more steam. to the engine, but atthe same time to take away a part of the motive power available for thefly-wheel motive means.

In order to prevent foreign matter from entering the governor andinterfering with the operation of the valve, a screen 8 is placed withinthe passage at the entrance end of the apparatus. The shaft f at thedelivery end of the apparatus works against a thrust-bearing consistingof the hardened-steelscrew If, there beingprovided also the oil-duct-u.to admit oil carried over inthe. steam to the engaging surfaces betweenthe screw and the thrust-bearing.

In Fig. 4 I have shown the governing device described applied to thereciprocating steau':engine E. The governing device is herein insertedin the steam-pipe leading to the engine, the hand throttle-valve T beingalsoprovided, so that in addition to the autoa'riatic control of thesupplied pressure whichtakes place on variations in engine speedthere isalso exercised a handcontrol through the throttle-valve T.

The described embodi'nent of my invention isparticularly applicable tothat class. of engines employed with anintermittent load, and especiallywhere spaceis valuable or where the usage is such as to make itdesirableto dispense with the usual belt-driven ballgovernor.

While I have described the illustrated embodiment of my invention withcare and par-' ticularity, it is to be. understood that my.in-, ventionis not limited to the described details, but that widedeparturestherefrom may be made without deviating from. the spirit of theinvention.

I claim 1 1. The combination with a.fluid-pressure engine having apressure-supply conduit. leading thereto, of separate motive throt:tling means wholly inclosed within the sup plied-pressure space of. theconduit for con-.

leading thereto, ofseparate motive throttling.

means wholly inclosed within the supplied pressure space of the conduitfor controlling the engine. a i

3. The combination with a fluid-pressure engine, of separate motivethrottling means for controlling the engine speed, said motive meansbeing directly driven by fluid-pressure and being wholly inclosed withinthe-pressure-space.

4. Thecombination with a reciprocating engine, of wholly-inclosed motivethrottling means, directly operated by fluidpressure, for controllingthe engine speed.

5. An engine-governor comprising pressure-operated centrifugal governingmeans and a casing inclosing said centrifugal governing means adapted tobe inserted in the pressure-supply pipe leading to said engine.

6. A governor for a fluidpressure engine comprising a pressure-operatedznotive gov erning device adapted-to be operated by the pressuresupplied to the engine, and wholly inclosed within the supplied-pressurespace of the conduit for controlling the engine, and means for actingupon said device with a por tion of the supplied pressure only.

7. A governor for a fluid-pressure engine comprising apressure-operated. motive governing device adapted. to be operated bythe pressure supplied to the engine and wholly inclosed within thesupplied-pressure space of the conduit for controlling the engine, andneans for by-passing a portion of the supplied pressure about saiddevice.

S. A governing device for a fiuidpressure motor comprisingpressurebperated motive throttling means wholly inclosed within thesupplied-pressure space of the conduit for controlling the engine, apressure-passage leading through said device, a by-pass leading aboutsaid device, and an adjustable gate in said by-pass.

9. A governor for a fluid-pressure motor comprising a niotive deviceadapted to be placed in the pressure-supply passage of said motor, afly-wheel rim driven by saidznotive device and adapted to move outwardlyon increase in velocity thereof, and throttling 1r eans operated by saidriin.

10. A governor for a fluid-pressure engine co uprising governing motivenieans adapted to be acted upon by the fluid-pressure supplied to theirotor, a fly-wheel driven by said motive means, and a throttle-valvemoved by said flywheel.

11. A fluid-pressure governor comprising motive means adapted to beacted upon by the supplied fluid-pressure, a plurality of flywheelsegments connected to the motive means and valve-operating meansconnected to the free ends of said segments.

12. A governor for a fluid-pressure motor adapted to be acted uponbythesupplied fluid-pressure comprising a motive device, a sleeve connectedthereto to be rotated there-' by having radialports, aconcentrically-arranged cylindrical valve having ports corresponding tothe ports of said sleeve and con centrically arranged with the latter torotate therewith, .and centrifugal means operated by said motivedevice-for varying the-relative position of the-ports in said sleeve andsaidval've. g v1 13. A throttling-governor for a fluid-pressure enginecomprising a Wholly-inclosed pressure-operated motive governing deviceand eXteriorly-accessible means for adjustably varying the throttlingaction of said device.

14. A governor for a fiuid-pressure engine having a casing, anopen-ended sleeve within said casing with blades internally arrangedwithin said sleeve and adapted to be acted upon by the supplied pressurefor turning the same, and means for more or less throttling the suppliedpressure on variations in the speed of said blades.

15. A governing device for a fluid-pressure engine comprising ablade-carrying member provided with ports and centrifugal means drivenby the blade-carrying member through the supplied pressure for openingand closing said ports.

16. A governor for a fluid-pressure engine comprising a blade-carryingmember, a ported member rotated thereby, a valve member adapted to bemoved relative thereto to open or close the ports on decrease orincrease in engine speed.

17. A governor for a fluid-pressure engine having a rotatable sleeveprovided with internal blades, an outer cylindrical valve member, acentrifugal member connected to the sleeve to be driven thereby andconnected also to the valve, said blades being subject to the action ofthe pressure-supply to be driven thereby in proportion to the amount ofsupplied pressure, said valve being moved thereby to oppose increase ordecrease in the amount of pressure supplied.

18. A governor for a fluid-pressure motor having motive governing meansadapted to be placed in the pressure-supply conduit and wholly inclosedwithin the supplied-pressure space of the conduit for controlling theengine, and a screening means in advance of said governing means throughwhich the supplied pressure must pass.

19. A governing device for a fluid-pressure motor having ablade-carrying member, a centrifugal member, and a valve member, allconcentrically arranged.

20. The combination in a governor fora fluid-pressure motor, of a sleeveh mounted in thepressure-supply conduit,- the blades Z mounted upon saidsleeve and the fly-wheel n operatively connected therewith.

21. The combination in. a governor for a fluidpressure motor, of acasing a I) connected with the pressure-supply conduit, the sleeve hmounted in said casing, the blades Z mounted-upon said sleeve, thefly-wheel n operatively connected with said blades, and the valvejoperatively connected with said flywheel.

22. The-combination in a governor for a fluid-pressuremotor, of blades Zin the pressure-supply conduit and adapted to be operated by thesteam-supply, a valve having ports 1' operatively connected therewith,and a by-pass about saidvalve.

23. Thecombination with a reciprocating steam engine, ofasteam-admission pipe leading thereto, a hand throttling-valve for saidadmission-pipe, and a separate motive throttling device wholly inclosedinsaid pipe for automatically controlling the engine speed.

24. A governor for a fluid-pressure motor having a rotary governingmember adapted to be drivenby the fluid-pressure supplied to the motor,and a valved member rotatable with said governing member but relativelymovable thereon for controlling the pressuresupply.

25. A governor for a fluid-pressure motor having motive meansadapted tobe driven by the pressure supplied to themotor, centrifugal governingmeans rotatably driven by said motive means, said governing means havingone or more centrifugal members adapted for movement radially outward.or inward in the plane of their rotation, and valved means controlledby said centrifugal governing: means.

26. A governor for a fluid-pressure motor comprising a throttlingdevice, a governing device controlling the same adapted to beoperated bythe pressure supplied to the engine and through the throttling device,and means for by-passing a. controllable portion of the suppliedpressure about said governingdevice.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. LARKIN, JR.

Witnesses:

THOMAS B. BOOTH, EDITH E. CHAPMAN.

